Military Cemetery Memorial Monument

LOCATION

The Military Cemetery Memorial Monument is located in the town of Silistra, at the intersection between the streets Drustar and Seventh September, at the Border Crossing Point with Romania. Silistra is 429 km away from the capital Sofia. There is a bus three times a day leaving from the Sofia Central Bus Station to Silistra, as well as a train three times a day from the Sofia Central Railway Station.

DESCRIPTION

The Military Cemetery Memorial Monument is the third preserved cemetery in Bulgaria since the First World War. There are 53 army men buried there, including 3 officers, 4 nurses and 46 soldiers. In 2012, the monument of the victims of the First World War in Silistra was given the status of a military cemetery and took the name War Memorial Cemetery of the victims of the First World War.

HISTORY

The monument bears the original name Monument of the World War I casualties. During the years until the Second World War, Silistra was an important strategic city, part of the military quadrant Varna - Silistra - Razgrad - Shumen.

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War, or the War to End All Wars, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. Over nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of the war (including the victims of a number of genocides), a casualty rate exacerbated by the belligerents' technological and industrial sophistication, and the tactical stalemate caused by gruelling trench warfare. It was one of the deadliest conflicts in history and precipitated major political change, including the Revolutions of 1917–1923 in many of the nations involved. Unresolved rivalries at the end of the conflict contributed to the start of the Second World War twenty-one years later.

The war drew in all the world's economic great powers, assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies (based on the Triple Entente of the Russian Empire, the French Third Republic, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) versus the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary, it did not join the Central Powers, as Austria-Hungary had taken the offensive against the terms of the alliance. These alliances were reorganised and expanded as more nations entered the war: Italy, Japan and the United States joined the Allies, while the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers.[1]

In 2012 at the proposal of the chairman of the District Union of the officers and sergeants from the reserve Stoyan Peychev, it was decided by the Regional Commission for the military monuments that the Monument of the World War I casualties in Silistra would be granted the status of a military cemetery and conver its name to the  Military Cemetery Memorial of the ones who died during the First World War. According to the directors of the historical museums, 53 army men were buried there, including 3 officers, 4 nurses and 46 soldiers.

The volunteers of the District Union of Reserve Officers and Regional Club Tradition leave flowers on the monument very often. On May 6th, which is the day of the Bulgarian Army, there is a solemn memorial, in which wreaths and flowers are placed in memory of the dead heroes by citizens too.

In 2013, two large cannons used during the Second World War (1939 - 1945) were placed next to the monument.

The maintenance and management are carried out by the Municipality of Silistra. The pavement was recently  restored, as well as two monolithic crosses of 14 overall, a new information plate was placed, the space around the memorial was rehabilitated.

Municipality of Silistra holds official ceremonies dedicated to the historical anniversaries, the Day of Courage and the Bulgarian Army - May 6th.

SITE SIGNIFICANCE

Military Cemetery Memorial Monument in Silistra is the third preserved military cemetery in Bulgaria since the First World War. It is a sign of gratitude to the Bulgarian warriors who died in the Dobrudja epopee.

VISITOR INFORMATION

It is located outside and is free to visit.

SITE CLASSIFICATION

Military monument, Military Cemetery Memorial

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I